Data centers are booming. Indigenous leaders want help protecting their lands.

And yet, underpinning its potential is the need for so-called hyperscale data centers that require vast amounts of land, energy, and water. In Sápmi, we already see how large data centers put [immense] pressure on our territories,” said Maren Storslett, who is a member of the Sámi Parliament in Norway. Data centers are often built in water-stressed regions, like Querétaro, Mexico, and Santiago, Chile. At the U.N., some delegates spoke of direct experience with harmful data centers, while others spoke of the potential risks. She added that the organization has developed resources for tribal leaders that highlight the impacts of hyperscale data centers, as well as key considerations before signing any agreement allowing one.